Getting an Early Start

Getting an early harvest is often a real plus for farmers.  The prices for the produce are higher, and boosting the diversity of your early farmer’s market table can attract customers and draw sales.  For my CSA, getting an extra-early start on some of the longer-maturing crops means that I can begin sooner in the year with a good spread by matching them with later-planted short season crops.

Getting that early harvest usually also means putting in some extra work.  One of the techniques I’ve adopted is to amend and shape raised beds in the fall before it gets too wet, and then cover them with a black plastic mulching film.  Then, in mid-winter and early spring I can pull off the plastic and have beds that are soft and ready to sow or plant into.  I sow the seed, then put down hoops and rowcover to protect the crops form cold and rain impact.  I’ve been doing this for the last four years with good results.

I sow snap peas and carrots first in mid-January and again in early March, and they give me an extended harvest beginning in late May.  If I were to wait ‘till the ground was dry enough to plant in spring (most years not until early April), I wouldn’t be harvesting these crops until late in June.

The main drawback is that is does require using more plastic that ends up in the landfill.  None of the biodegradable plastics hold up long enough, and sturdier reusable sheeting is not practical at my scale.  But I remain conscious of this, and limit this technique to a relatively small area.

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